Patent truth

Patent advisers can help innovation-led businesses work more efficiently and deliver better commercial value but, often, they are called in too late.

Frequently they receive requests out of the blue to file a patent as soon as possible. For example, a member of the sales team visits the research and development department to find out what is going on. While chatting to an engineer he discovers that work is under way to develop an improved product with some highly marketable new features. The next day, when meeting one of his key customers, he cannot resist telling them about this exciting new development and in doing so, he unintentionally discloses the entire research proposition. As a result, it may no longer be possible to obtain patent protection for it.

Similarly, valuable research can be disclosed unwittingly at exhibitions and trade fairs or in conference papers prepared by academics and circulated to delegates at the event.